When is history "History"?

I have read two novels recently based on the the life of Johannes Vermeer, the famous Dutch still life painter circa 1665. One was "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" by Susan Vreeland published in 2000 and the other "Girl with a pearl earring" by Tracy Chevalier published a little later.
"Girl with the pearl earring" is now a feature film starring Colin Firth as Vermeer and Scarlet Johannson as the girl....... It has done very well thank you very much and everyone TALKS ABOUT IT.

If you go to any true Biographical site on Vermeer the details of his life are very sketchy indeed and only 40 or so of his paintings are accounted for. Most are of his daughters, Magdalena and Maria. His wife features a few times as does the patron who is vilified in Girl.... as a lecherous maid molester.
The real life painting of girl........ is of Magdalena and NOT his maid.
To me it has opened up a whole ethical and moral conundurum, of which, I too as a writer have to take heed of.
The book and subsequent film of "Girl with the pearl earring" are far better known than "Girl in Hyacinth blue" which stays closer to the truth.
The portrayal of Vermeer and his relationship with the maid [even though it was NOT consummated in the book/film] to this writer is spurious and smacks of slander. What of the outcry if the sober and pious Johann Sebastian Bach was submitted to the same treatment in a book/film. I suppose the same thing occurred to poor old Salieri with the fallout from Amadeus.
It has opened my eyes as to subject matter and the responsibilities which I have. Not to make easy gain from a real life figure by distorting the truth.
The Irish have a saying..........."Never let the facts get in the way of a good story"
Mmmmmmmmmmm?????